High street

Forget ‘make do and mend’ travel marketing and build your brand to last in 2024

Travel marketing in 2023 was ’make do and mend’ with a reliance on discounts and digital ad spend. Andrew Shelton urges agents to build their brand to last in 2024.

Jet2holidays unveils 'heavyweight' trade-focused peaks campaign with agent offer

From 1 January 2024, Jet2holidays will give travel agents the chance to win one of 100 fam trip places with Jet2holidays

Jacqueline Dobson: 'Travel agents are propping up our high streets!'

Barrhead president Dobson, who has just taken over as SPAA president too, sets out her vision for Scottish outbound tourism – and the key role agents play in this

Four issues that could stand in the way of another 'big year' for cruise

Cruise chiefs, speaking at the Clia Forum on Tuesday (19 December), are certain the sector is on the up – but urged agents to be mindful of several issues that could prevent them from the making the most of the rebound

Hays Travel unveils new-look Broughton shop after £200,000 refurb

Hays Travel owner Dame Irene Hays joined the team at the former Thomas Cook branch near Chester for the grand unveiling

Delays inevitable following EU entry-exit rollout next year, Advantage boss warns

Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said it is likely there will be delays when the EU introduces biometric border checks next year

Why some of travel's biggest brands are turning – or returning – to the trade

TTG caught up with a handful of major brands that are either starting to work with agents again, or work with the trade for the first time. Gary Noakes reports

Blue Bay Travel seeks two key hires to drive 20th anniversary growth push

Agency on the lookout for a cruise product manager and commercial manager to help it achieve its target of 70% growth, set as it marked 20 years of trading this month

Premier Travel reopens Thomas Cook shop with former staff members

Premier Travel has opened its 27th branch in north Norfolk, taking on staff who worked there under previous owners

‘The travel agent is not dead!’: Agency boss lays out five-branch expansion plan

New Era Travel boss Alan Godfrey has opened two branches in Hampshire in the past 18 months – and has more in his sights

Ben Bouldin: 'Agents are getting closer to their optimum fighting weight'

Royal Caribbean International vice-president Ben Bouldin says the UK trade’s pandemic rebound is almost complete ahead of what is set to be another critical year of recovery

Shop floor success: agency managers reveal the secrets to making 'clients for life'

Five Hays Travel branch managers reveal their secrets and learnings to ensure their travel agency clients receive the best service so they keep coming back.

Advantage Travel Partnership to merge two major trade events in 2024

The consortium will combine its annual conference in May with its yearly event for international travel marketing companies

Tui launches new booking tools to independent agents to boost peaks sales

Ahead of the peaks booking period, Tui is giving agents the tools to sell its products to customers

APT to expand trade sales team amid ongoing company-wide recruitment drive

The APT and Travelmarvel brands plan to hire a national sales manager to support its key accounts

Latin Routes releases first trade brochure in four years

The Truly Individual Holidays to Latin America brochure explores the ’vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes and rich cultures of Latin America’

Shortlist revealed for Top 50 Travel Agencies 2024 by TTG

The Top 50 Travel Agencies 2024 by TTG ceremony will be held at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse in April, where the next Top 50 will be named

Tui River Cruises reveals first new-build ship and Douro entry

Tui River Cruises has commissioned its first new vessel and confirmed plans for a 2025 entry onto Portugal’s River Douro, supported by flight programme

AmaWaterways unveils wave campaign after bumper sales year

Every suite reservation will also be upgraded to business class flights as part of the campaign, which launches on 26 December.

UK managing director Jamie Loizou said the river line’s latest wave campaign “is designed to appeal to luxury travellers”, adding that offers would make it easier for travel agents to sell its products.

AmaWaterways’ UK team has reported record 2023 booking levels and a 78% spike in the number of UK travel agencies booking its river cruises. Bookings are up 46% versus the same period in 2019.

The Big Question: Has the pandemic changed peaks for ever?

Peaks has long been one of travel’s rare certainties, but has consumer, supplier and agent behaviour changed since 2020?

Advantage boss confident current strong booking levels 'to continue into 2024'

Bookings departing between 18 and 28 December are up 44% year-on-year, according to Advantage’s chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said

AE Expeditions to expand educational programme next year following sales surge

Expedition line reveals plans to work more closely with the trade next year

Trade body seeks ‘greater clarity’ from govt on package travel reforms

The Association of Atol Companies invited members to share their views on proposed changes to Package Travel Regulations

Solmar Villa Holidays bolsters trade team with experienced hire

Villa specialist Solmar adds new member to its trade team, with expansion plans for 2024